Karnataka CM row: 'Prayers would not go unanswered', says DK Shivakumar, backs Siddaramaiah

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who visited the Chamundeshwari temple in Mysuru on Friday, has once again given credence to speculations of a leadership change in Karnataka.

 

When reporters asked him if he had opted out of the CM’s race, referring to his earlier remark that he was left with “no option” but to support Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar said, “I believe that efforts might fail, but prayers don’t. I have prayed to the Goddess and sought her blessings. All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge and other senior leaders have advised me and also given me a clear message that we need to work together.”

 

Shivakumar, who broke 11 coconuts as an offering to the deity, said, “Chamundee is the goddess who eliminates sorrow. The state had good rains this year. I have offered prayers with my family today (Friday).”

The deputy chief minister's remarks follow Siddaramaiah’s statement asserting that he would be the chief minister for “a full term of five years”.

 

Soon after Siddaramaiah’s statement, Shivakumar, as though expressing helplessness, said, “What options do I have? I have to stand by him. I will support him. I don’t have any objections to it. Whatever the party high command decides, it will be fulfilled. I don’t want to discuss anything. Lakhs of workers have supported  this party, not just Shivakumar.”

 

AICC general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, who held closed-door meetings with party MLAs earlier this week, also denied having discussed the leadership change in the state.

During Surjewala’s feedback meetings with the legislators--who flagged concerns over paucity of development funds besides ministers’ lack of responsiveness and performance--several members went all out making public statements about the leadership change.

 

Magadi MLA H.C. Balakrishna and Ramanagara MLA Iqbal Hussain openly endorsed Shivakumar for chief minister, with Hussain even claiming that Shivakumar enjoyed the support of more than 100 MLAs. He refused to withdraw his statement even after being slapped with a notice by the party president.

 

Former Bengaluru Rural MP D.K. Suresh, also the younger brother of Shivakumar, said that his brother was disappointed. “It is not helplessness, but his respect for the party and as a disciplined soldier of the party, he is committed to the high command’s decision.”

 

Expressing hope and desire to see his brother become the chief minister, Suresh said, “I want to see him as the CM but the CM post is not vacant now. His hard work will be recognised and rewarded, if not immediately.”

India